Columbus Artist Raphael Hayes Channels Faith, Family, and Fabric into Emotional Mixed-Media Masterpieces
In Columbus, Ohio, Raphael Hayes is creating artwork that speaks in layers—not just visually, but spiritually, emotionally, and generationally. A senior at the Columbus College of Art & Design, Raphael is a mixed-media artist whose faith and family history are woven, quite literally, into the materials he uses. His work stands out not just in Ohio's underground creative scene, but in its quiet honesty, rooted in Christian belief and the desire to give shape to stories that can’t be told in words.
Originally drawn to art through his older brother and an influential teacher, Raphael experimented with drawing, sculpture, and photography before discovering the power of fabric and wood. It was during the COVID-19 lockdown that he began making deeply personal pieces—starting with a fabric portrait of his father created while the two shared the same space. That early piece laid the foundation for everything that followed.
Finding Structure in Chaos
Early in his college years, Raphael admits he didn’t know why he was making art—he just knew he needed to. That changed after a reflective summer spent in his car, grappling with the chaos of his thoughts and habits. Out of that stillness came a new clarity: that art could be an act of faith. A simple image of mushrooms under a tree sparked a painting project, which helped him realize he wanted to take art seriously, not just for grades, but as a calling.
Materials with Meaning
Raphael’s art balances tension and peace. Wood gives structure; fabric gives emotion. He sees these materials as reflections of the human condition: fabric as the soul, wood as the bones, and light as the presence of God. In recent projects, he’s used light-sensitive materials to let actual illumination become part of the artwork—a metaphor for the presence of Christ breaking through darkness.
Faith as Framework
After attending a summer residency at Yale Norfolk, Raphael reconnected with his Christian faith on a deeper level. That experience led to a turning point, where he stopped forcing pieces into existence and began praying for guidance. His new series focuses on biblical moments, such as Peter walking toward Jesus on water. These works embody both emotional vulnerability and theological insight, using color, texture, and layering to translate scripture into tangible visuals.
Visualizing Oppression and Freedom
One of his upcoming pieces tackles the theme of oppression—not just political or social, but emotional and internal. The planned piece will feature a single path of light breaking through a field of dark fabric, symbolizing the gospel as a way out of addiction, pressure, and mental heaviness. For Raphael, it represents more than an artistic concept. It mirrors his own experience with substance use, loneliness, and the relief he found in spiritual surrender.
Family as Subject and Healer
Many of Raphael's earlier pieces focused on family. A fabric work depicting his father reflected not only admiration but unresolved tension. A portrait of his mother and brother, Xavier, explored complex feelings of distance, sacrifice, and misunderstood love. Another work dedicated to his best friend Caleb captured the beauty of friendship as an anchor through life’s early storms. Each piece functions as both a tribute and a therapeutic process, helping Raphael confront the past and make peace with it.
